articles | Port Angeles Slide In 2004
Port Angeles Slide In 2004
Aug 24 2004
Author: Kim Lansidel
A picturesque community located on the peninsula boarding the salty Pacific ocean gives us an opportunity to relax and enjoy our third reining show of the year for the Washington Reining Horse Association. A bit smaller show than in the past – with only 275 paid entries, there was plenty of social and shopping time for all. We still paid out over $12,000 as the weekend came to an end. It is a great show for relaxation and family time
For many trainers and non pros alike, there is often a backbone of support which provides many to achieve their dreams and goals. Darren Stancik, a native of Port Angeles, was excited to have such a successful show (seven of eleven NRHA classes were won by him/clients/family), but to have his parents at this show was more gratifying for him. “Their long-time support” is why he is training horses today. Darren’s father, Bruce Cramer, is battling physical ailments and thus the initial efforts to attend the show were demanding. But Bruce and Paula couldn’t miss watching their grandson DJ lope about the arena in our Futures class and to see Darren’s horses move through the dirt during an aggressive slide – such achievements! Darren is extremely appreciative of his parents and loved being able to spend time with them at the show. They stepped into a few of the win pictures and what a special weekend for all!
Darren Stancik
An aggressive stop is demonstrated by our NRHA Open winners Darren Stancik and Cee A Chocolate Chic, who was fortunate to have a great show while his parents Bruce and Paula Cramer where able to be present. He wishes to “thank them immensely” for the continued years of support they have provided him.
Darren broke the icing for the show on a horse where the key ingredient is Chocolate (his sire is Chocolate Chic Olena)! Darren and Cee A Chocolate Chic have once again captured the win in our NRHA Open class. This dynamic duo marked a 72 ½, where they plused both spins and all three stops. Darren describes him as “the epitome of riding his dad” and he is a fun, honest horse to show. This pretty sorrel stallion is owned by Dick and Ann Lee and he now has earnings over $9,000. His future entails a possible trip to the NRBC next year and definitely the NRHA Derby. Darren was also second on another Chocolate Chic Olena who marked a 72 – Godiva Chic – a four year old stout bay mare owned by Amy Roy.
This big beautiful mare also brought home the coveted Dave Reaume Port Angeles perpetual trophy. 
It is most appropriate for them to have won this because Dave Reaume was the first trainer Darren ever worked for in the horse industry. Mr. Reaume trained out of Darren’s parents’ barn for a year while Darren was in high school and during this time Darren took the opportunity to work for him. Darren described him as, “a genius with colts”. Dave Reaume was also a horse shoer and was responsible for bringing the sport of Reining to the peninsula.
Between Nancy Stancik and client Janet Hurlburt, the Non Pro classes were dominated by them. Nancy and her now gelded, super sweet horse Peppys Double Chant a.k.a. “Louie” marked a whopping 73 from six plus half marks! They brought home the Morrison in the NRHA Non Pro class and this has given Louie earnings at almost $18,000. Nancy commented, “Louie has more energy now that he is a gelding” and “he’s going to be a great horse for DJ” to learn the ins-and-outs of reining. Nancy is also the leader for our WRHYA (youth) association within the WRHA.
Janet Hurlburt
Janet Hurlburt and Dunitinthebuff had a stupendous show! They acquired three pewters, multiple awards and the shows high score of a whopping 73 ½.
Janet Hurlburt and her palomino Hollywood Dun It mare, Dunitinthebuff, had a show they have been working hard to achieve for the past two years. Knocking on the door of the winner circle all year the pair blossomed at this show posting one big score after another -72,72 ½, and a 73 ½ (the shows high score!). Wins in the NRHA Intermediate Non Pro, Limited Non Pro and the Novice Horse Non Pro class gave her three Pewter trophies and a few goodies to carry home. Janet and her husband Ken recently took over the job of printing out our WRHA show premiums with their printing company Del-Bet Printing Co – Thanks and a job well done for this horse and rider pair!
Aaron Doss is Darren Stancik’s assistant and right-hand-man. Aaron entered the pen aboard Smart Lil Jac for her first time in the show pen to obtain her first win! A daughter of Smart Chic Olena, this five year old mare, with HUGE brakes, was awarded a 71 ½ for her winning performance in the NRHA Novice Horse Open class. Her owner is Darci Richards and she also owns Jac Daniels Neat, another stallion Darren showed successfully. Darren is excited he can supply Aaron with some good horses to show and says, “Aaron is a competent rider” and has all the qualities to be a great addition to the horse training community. He is easy to get along with, hard working and just a good people-person. Aaron was also second in the NRHA Limited Open and third in the NRHA Intermediate Open class.
Robert Hartley traveled from southern Oregon to come to this most northern show and it was well worth his efforts. Riding Shining Freckle (who is sired by Shining Spark), for owner Frank Orozco, the pair won the NRHA Limited Open. Robert also won the tie breaking flip in the NRHA Intermediate Open class. He tied with Travis Wigen who rode Chic On A High for owners Karen and Jack Patton. Chic On A High was recently gelded and both he and Travis made their first trip back to the NRHA Derby this year.
Kelsey Davis made her first trip into the NRHA show ring and came out a winner! Her parents, John and Karen Davis, purchased LSR Whizdom in June for her through their trainer Darren Stancik. A smart purchase, this gelding did spectacular for her in the show pen staying consistent and quiet – just they way a great kid’s horse should be. Kelsey is only ten years old and has been sitting on the side lines watching her parents show their horses for a couple of years and has obviously taken notes on what to do in the show pen. She did a super job all weekend showing LSR Whizdom. The entire family participates in showing, including her younger brother Luke who enters the Future Riders of America class. The NRHA 14-18 youth class was won by Heide Weide and her horse Lenas Charge Bar. They performed their pattern to receive their plaque for the win.
It was exciting to see the youth participating in many ways during the show: our youth classes; the future riders class, with an average age being 5, where they demonstrated skills they’re learning; the Port Angeles 4-H group who cleaned all the stalls after the show and 10 year old Olivia Pluard who belted out the National Anthem each day like you’ve never heard.
For the Rookie class, a runoff transpired to decide the winner of the class. Libby Metz on Lena Nuff and Tracy Lewis on Sweet Chocolate Chic each marked a 71 ½ and thus decided not to flip, but to once again challenge themselves to ride the pattern. It was close, but Libby, who now resides in Oregon, squeaked by with a half point to win. Libby is originally from Washington and rode pleasure horses prior to switching to reining. She currently works for the company that helped build Safco field for the Mariners here in Seattle – wow, is that a baseball facility or what! Libby’s gelding is by Fairhill Enterprise out of a Doc O’lena mare. Tracy’s mare is by Chocolate Chic Olena and she lives in Washington.
With runs being done and the dust settled; a few special thank you’s are in order: Justin Peterson and Larry Johnson who prepared and maintained the footing; Ayn Todd for assigning camp sites for horses and people and directing arrivals and set-ups; Darren Rentas for the following monogrammed BMB products as awards: saddle pad carriers, barn coats, and halters; Tami Goodwin for designing our beautiful show program; and the entire committee who helped put this successful event together. The Port Angeles business community additionally provides approximately $7000.00 in sponsorship funds specifically for this show. Among them are two platinum sponsors: Hermann Brothers Sunset Hardware and Ruddell Auto Mall (thank you for providing courtesy cars too!).
More sponsors include: Continental Dirt contractors, Inc. and the McCann family, Fleek Quarter horses, Rhodes River Ranch, CDR Farms, Mark and Julie Daviscourt, Tina Peterson, Three Peaks Ranch, Slide By Farms (Steve and Vicki Sandvig),McKinzie Quarter horses, B&B Residential care and the Shobe family, Timberland Homes, Peoples Bank, Canton Ranches, R&D plumbing, EH Construction, Lucky Eagle Casino, Double H Non Pros, Precision Images, Reber Ranch…Please visit our website for a complete list of sponsors and links to their websites www.wrha.net.
Amy Roy
Amy Roy and Godiva Chic will be able to admire the Dave Reaume perpetual trophy they won for the next year which is awarded to a first year rider’s class held each year at Port Angeles. Dave Reaume is responsible for brining reining to the peninsula.
Judges Ken Holley and Bob LaPorta reported their visit to the Pacific Northwest was very enjoyable and the show was well organized and successful. Even though numbers were down from last year due to various reasons (fuel, World show…), everyone went home happy, relaxed, sun-tanned, and ready for the next show.
So, if you want to spend five days at a well maintained facility surrounded by breathtaking scenery, varied tourist activities and unique shops to browse in during free time – plus a full menu of restaurants to choose from - plan to come to the Port Angeles Slide-In in 2005! For more information please visit our web site at www.wrha.net.